First Night blends residents and performers into a mosaic of transformation and hope

Sunday

Dec 27, 2009 at 12:01 AMDec 27, 2009 at 5:00 AM

Aarik Danielsen

When 11:59 turns into midnight, one year seamlessly rolls into the next, and a familiar refrain rings in Karen Ramey’s ears.

When: 6 p.m. to midnight on New Year’s Eve

Where: Downtown and Stephens College campus

Cost: Admission buttons purchased before the event are $8 for those 8 and older, age 7 and younger are free, and $10 at the door. Buttons are available at the Columbia Parks and Recreation office at 1 S. Seventh St., the Activity & Recreation Center, Streetside Records, and Gerbes markets.

Free passes: Free passes are available at the Armory Sports Center, 701 E. Ash St., through Thursday or until supply is depleted.

Food: The Food Court opens at 5:30 p.m. at Stamper Commons at Stephens College. The grill will stay open late.

More details: Call 874-7460 or visit www.firstnightcolumbia.org.

Parking and shuttles: Columbia Transit bus shuttles will wind through the First Night footprint during the event. Find parking garages at Sixth, Eighth, Tenth and Cherry, and Eighth and Walnut. Streets surrounding the Boone County Courthouse will be closed during fireworks displays.

Rather than the plaintive strains of “should auld acquaintance be forgot,” she hears “the city is a stage, the people are the players” as New Year after New Year, Columbia residents sing the praises of First Night. The expression of that sentiment offers the greatest possible measure of success for an event designed to legitimize and showcase the notion that a community, when drawn together, can itself be a work of art.

Thursday night’s assemblage will be the 15th time Columbians have ushered in a brand-new year with this alcohol-free, arts-driven celebration geared toward families. Although variables change each time — new performers rotate through and, this year, First Night has a new director of operations in Tracy Lane — the commitment to a diversity of experiences remains the same.

First Night does not stop where many festivals do, as a mere feast for the eyes and ears — though it is that with fireworks and visual arts displays and music ranging from bluegrass to jazz, klezmer to rock. The First Night experience is intended to get into people’s feet with instruction in swing, salsa and Yiddish dance as well as a people’s procession; hands as participants bring the beat to bear in drum circles; and, this year, their very spirit. For the first time, a room at Missouri United Methodist Church will be set aside as an interfaith gathering point, a locus of quiet reflection and spiritual renewal heading into the tabula rasa that is 2010.

This aim to unite body and soul in joyful celebration and to translate that spirit across a larger body politic is what organizers believe makes First Night so unique. Many of the performances including a participatory aspect, creating what longtime director of entertainment Jane Accurso calls an “atmosphere of interaction” where you’re “sitting side by side” with “people you might not normally find yourself sitting beside,” not just observing but joining in the merriment together.

“We really do want it to be an interactive event,” added Ramey, who sits on First Night’s board of directors. “When you have that interactive component, it brings people together whether they’re drumming, they’re dancing. ... The music and the art just washes away any kind of lines anybody has.”

In their desire to see dividing lines washed away, organizers have woven unifying threads throughout the event’s structure and planning. As in past years, hundreds of free passes have been provided for the Voluntary Action Center and other community organizations to distribute. Through the availability of these passes and opportunities to volunteer and gain free entry, organizers hope residents whose financial struggles might tempt them to stay home will enjoy the festive fellowship of their community.

First Night schedule

Organizers also have been thrilled to see First Night develop into a spot for both showcasing and supporting the talents of local teens. Hickman students have donated time to promoting the event, and a teen venue at the Armory will spotlight the sounds of school-age rock bands. Many students will receive valuable mentoring and guidance in what it takes to run a concert through relationships with sound engineers, technicians and other professionals.

In a year where “we … could have basically not had a festival” because of the economic crunch similar events have felt, Accurso expressed deep appreciation for the follow-through of sponsors and the generosity of performers, many of whom are working for discounted fees. She cites this commitment as testimony to the place First Night has carved out in the life of the community and in individuals’ lives.

Organizers also pointed to the hard work of First Night’s steering committee and other repeat volunteers who have taken a personal stake in the event’s success. “It’s amazing to me — I show up at these meetings, and all these things have just been quietly done behind the scenes because people love what they do,” Lane said. “They just keep doing it.”

“I think Tracy’s experiencing what I did the first couple years as director,” Accurso added, reflecting on the support and kindness she has felt while working with First Night volunteers. With so many people deeply invested in making First Night a go each Dec. 31, it seems organizers have all the help they need to continue transmitting that personal sense of joy and appreciation to the wider Columbia community.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.